Critical Appreciation of Foreign Literary Classics

This course is conducted in Chinese, with selective Chinese and English subtitles, fit for college students who major in or like Foreign Literature. The world literary masterpieces are the essence of human culture and an important way to inherit and carry on the genes of cultural civilization. The literary masterpieces are like small encyclopedias, which makes it possible for us, without leaving our home, to appreciate the beauty of language, the interest of story, the cleverness of conception and the ingenuity of narration. We can also enjoy the exotic nature, customs, humanities, traditions, arts, crafts, the rise and fall of a nation, and the happiness and miseries of countless families and individuals. In addition, the literary masterpieces are like mirrors, reflecting the unique and charming splendid cultures of various nations and the “difference” and “sameness” implied in the cultures. This course mainly focuses on twelve literary masterpieces by six authors from Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Russia and Japan respectively, presenting the authors’ life experience and their literary creation, relating the story of the works, and analyzing the Chinese and western cultural phenomena in the works, to improve our literacy, cognition and ability in critical thinking and judging.